Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The
U.S. State Department has launched an unprecedented donation campaign
in support of international LGBT rights. Via press release:

The
U.S. Department of State has launched a text donation campaign that
allows Americans to donate to the mGive International Response Equality
Fund. Donations will help to further programs and initiatives aimed at
advancing human rights, fostering equality, advocacy, protection and
dialogue to ensure human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered (LGBT) persons around the world. To help, anyone can donate $10 by texting the word PRIDE to 80000.

The
Global Equality Fund supports programs that advance the human rights of
LBGT persons around the world. The Fund was launched by U.S Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Human Rights Day in December 2011 in
Geneva, Switzerland, where she reaffirmed, “Human rights are gay rights
and gay rights are human rights.” The Fund is supported by the U.S.
government. While providing tangible assistance to LGBT civil society
groups around the world, the Fund also serves to underscore the U.S.
State Department’s commitment to ensuring LGBT people worldwide are able
to exercise their human rights with dignity.

The new campaign is being heralded today on the official website of the State Department under the heading "Global Equality Fund." Learn more about the mGive campaign here.

The
fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be
any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud. I have always been
very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my
family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone
else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being
counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give
that up by being a journalist. [snip] I love, and I am loved.

In
my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest
gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love
with the people in my life. I appreciate your asking me to weigh in on
this, and I would be happy for you to share my thoughts with your
readers. I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this
doesn’t mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think
visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s
shield of privacy.

The EU Observer reports that the anti-gay lobby in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union, has financial links to anti-gay conservative groups in the United States.

One
such lobby group is European Dignity Watch, founded in 2010, advocating
"life, the family and fundamental freedoms." According to the EU
transparency register, it has an annual budget of €80,816 - all in the
form of anonymous donations. It rallies against abortion, euthanasia,
but most ardently against gay rights. It accuses the European Parliament
of pressuring member states into legalising same-sex marriage, and the
European Commission of bias for hosting a pro-gay photo exhibition.

Among
those suspected of secretly funding European anti-gay groups is the
Heritage Foundation, the DC-based conservative think tank founded in
1973 by Joseph Coors. The anti-gay groups cited in the EU Observer's article vehemently deny that they are paid by American organizations.

In
early 2011, Chick-fil-A came under fire for its donations and political
ties to a number of anti-gay groups. Though Chick-fil-A continues to
deny supporting an anti-gay agenda, the company has donated over $3
million to organizations like the Family Research Council and Exodus
International between 2003 and 2009. And in 2010 alone, Chick-fil-A
donated over $1.9 million to anti-gay causes, more than any other year
for which public records are available.

The bulk
of the 2010 donations came in a $1.2M grant to the Marriage & Family
Foundation. Another $500K went to the Fellowship For Christian
Athletes, who requires applicants to sign their Sexual Purity Pledge:

God
desires His children to lead pure lives of holiness. The Bible is clear
in teaching on sexual sin including sex outside of marriage and
homosexual acts. Neither heterosexual sex outside of marriage nor any
homosexual act constitute an alternate lifestyle acceptable to God.
While upholding God’s standard of holiness, FCA strongly affirms God’s
love and redemptive power in the individual who chooses to follow Him.
FCA’s desire is to encourage individuals to trust in Jesus and turn away
from any impure lifestyle.

The
AP cites Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for
Marriage, who says the checks were cut on Friday and are being reported
to the state Public Disclosure Commission Monday afternoon. The
Washington state Legislature passed the law allowing same-sex marriage
earlier this year, and it was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in Feb. But
an effort to put that law up to a vote was successful, meaning
Referendum 74 -- seeking to overturn the law allowing same-sex marriage
in Washington state -- is on the ballot in November.

In November last year, Microsoft joined in the filing of an amicus brief supporting the overturn of DOMA. (Tipped by JMG reader Alex)

Tricycle Daily DharmaJuly 3, 2012

The Limited Mask of Self

Of
all the words we use to disguise the hollowness of the human condition,
none is more influential than 'myself.' It consists of a collage of
still images—name, gender, nationality, profession, enthusiasms,
relationships—that are renovated from time to time, but otherwise are
each a relic from one particular experience or another. The defining
teaching of the Buddhist tradition, that of non-self, is merely pointing
out the limitations of this reflexive view we hold of ourselves. It’s
not that the self does not exist, but that it is as cobbled-together and
transient as everything else.